An Overflowing Heart (And a She Speaks Scholorship)

I am teaching a Bible Study on Tuesday mornings.  I am writing it weakly and living it at the same time.  The title - "Journey of Faith".  I feel stretched far beyond my comfort zone, but at the same time, feel such overflowing peace and joy as I write in obedience to God's call on my life. 
Yesterday's lesson was on how patience and faith go together.  We focussed our attention on 1Thessalonians 5:12-18. Verse 16 says, "Be joyful always."  One young mom shared how hard that has been as a single mom pulled in so many directions.  I can relate a bit with that.  It feels hard to have joy sometimes in the midst of a trial.  So what do you do?  How do you combat a joyless life when God is calling you to be joyful always?  I suggested to the ladies to keep a gratitude journal.  This has helped me in my faith journey to be joyful about the smallest of things.  Like finding my keys.  Like watching my granddaughter look at ants in fascination.  Like hearing the birds sing in the middle of the night. (Ok, so that is another whole story for another time.)
Let God show you today how to have an overflowing heart of joy always.

She Speaks Conference is about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God and that your heart is to serve Him and His daughters, as He leads.

I am linking this post to two others today - Ann's (where a scholarship is being offered) and the She Speaks Conference website. It is a conference about "women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God".  I am passionate about bringing Women closer to God.  This is anothe way to live my passion.

Legacy

I love watching my daughters in action.  They both have good hearts. We were in McKinney recently visiting our oldest daughter Amy and her husband Trey and our precious granddaughter Lauren.  We had our other precious granddaughter Avril with us.  We were at the park and my daughter met a young woman with a toddler.  She made an instant connection and invited her to another child activity the next day.  This young women was new to the area and needed a little encouragement.
My heart was happy as I watched my daughter reach out to others. I started thinking about the strong women in my life and I remember my grandmothers reaching out to others, and my mom reaching out to others, helping when somebody needs a helping hand.
I have always been a people person and as I grew in my Faith walk I wanted to teach my children the same.  I taught them to look for the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
My daughter Melissa does that also. She reaches out to others with words of encouragement and acts of kindness.  Both of my girls call with prayer requests for their friends.
 Sometimes when your children grow up they don't always want to be like you.  I remember the day I realized I was like my mom.  And now I treasure the Legacy of being like my mom, and watching my girls grow into godly women. 
I treasure the opportunity to watch them encourage their daughters to have a good heart like them.

Waiting

It has been an interesting morning in the Ragland home.  Mike and I have done our devotional time and have spent time discussing what we learned.  I am writing some devotions, and reading them to him. 
He checked his email and everything changed in a second.  We have a friend in the hospital with pulmonary problems.  We got a quick email that things are not good.  We did the only thing we could do.  We prayed.  And now we wait.  Waiting is the hardest to do.  I want to be DOING something to help.  And then God speaks to my heart and reminds me I am doing something.  The most important thing.  Praying.  So as I go through my day today I will pray without ceasing.

Inspiration

As I sit here looking at all the trees in full bloom (and my white car yellowed with pollen) I ponder all the ways God inspires me in ways that amaze me and through people who live their lives with love and joy.
  I have had a very interesting week.  I have begun caring for a sweet couple.  He is 86 and she is 80. She just got home from an extended stay at the hospital, so I am there for her.  He is very independent.  The second day I was there I was in tears as he told me they have been married for 60 years.  I watch him love her and try to care for her and my heart overflows with joy.  He got in her hospital bed and took a nap with her and asked me to take a picture.  I hope to share it with you soon.  I want his permission first.  Their love for each other is very evident and inspires me to be a better person.  They inspire me to love my husband more.  They inspire me to love my children and grandchildren more.
Their love and joy in the face of medical problems inspires me to love God more.
What inspires you today?